Of all the things in the world that stink in the nostrils of men, hypocrisy is the worst.
C.H. Spurgeon

Homeschool Workspaces

Homeschool Workspaces Thursday, September 30, 1993 10:39:58 PM Homeschool IdeaExchange Item From: Jason(Ripp) Rippetoe Subject: Homeschool Workspaces To: Homeschool IdeaExchange

Cc:
In a 1972 book called “No More Public School!” by Harold Bennet ideas were offered to assist parents in homeschooling or creating a private school that would allow a group of parents to educate their children together. The following list (with several modifications) is taken from that book and outlines “work spaces” for a self-directed learning enviornment. This is directed more at a small classroom environment, but I thought it might still be useful for someone.

¥SPACE FOR BOOKS

  1. Work surface- large comfortable pillows, soft rug, one four foot square kneeling table
  2. Open shelves for books and magazines

    Illustrated story books Books of maps

    Mail-order catalogs Photography books Books of paintings Books on space Illustrated ecology books Illustrated encyclopedia Books on dinosaurs and animals A box of 5×7 index cards with one word on each A shoebox full of 2 inch plastic or wood letters Flashcards with words and pictures Magazines- Mechanics Illustrated, National Geographic, etc. Illustrated “how-to” books in carpentry, fixing cars, building boats, etc.

¥ MATH SPACE

  1. Work surface- table and chairs
  2. Shelves with simple materials

    Abacus Play money Rulers Measuring cups Dominoes Dice A dozen fake eggs Bathroom scales A box of 5×7 cards with arithmatic problems; answers on back of card A box a various collored beads with strings for teaching “sets”

¥ HOW THINGS FIT TOGETHER

  1. Work surface- kneeling table
  2. Shelves with materials

    Checkers and checkerboard Pipe fittings (plumbing) Simple and complex puzzles Legos Old clocks and motors to take apart Tinkertoys

¥BUILDING THINGS SPACE

  1. Work surface- floor or ground
  2. Storage of materials will vary

    Cardboard panels with holes punched on edges, to be fastened together by looping pipe cleaners through the holes. Large wooden blocks cut from pine timbers. Large sheets of canvas (6’x6′) with grommeted corners for fastening to ground, chairs, etc., with ropes, stakes, and poles

¥ SCIENCE AND NATURE SPACE

  1. Work table for display, dissecting, etc.
  2. Shelves for materials and aquariums

    Live fish and turtles Chemistry set Magnifying glass A set of pulleys and gears A set of mirrors and prisms Microscope 6 volt battery, light bulb, bell, wire, switches, small compass Glass bottles for collecting insects on nature walks

¥ ART SPACE

  1. Work surface

    Easel Table for drawing Carpentry bench with tools Clay table Chalk board (or dry-erase board)

  2. Shelves for supplies

    Crayons Colored pencils Felt tip pens (colored) Water colors White glue Various papers Old magazines for collage

  3. Large display area

¥ LEARNING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE SPACE

  1. Work area- Table and chairs
  2. Storage- Large cardboard box with file folders

    Photos of people from other places pasted on cardboard panels, cut from magazines or travel brochures. Photos of people doing things: farming, washing clothes in a stream, repairing a truck engine, doctoring, working in a factory, operating a computer, walking on the moon, etc.